Keep Cozy With Chicago's Best Cold-Weather Cocktails

The bad news: beachy mai tais and daiquiris are done for the year. The good news: rich and warming cocktails are in. And frankly, cocktails infused with cider, chocolate, and warm tea are basically great enough to make us forget about summer entirely. Here's where to get your cozy buzz on in Chicago.

Warm tea, nutmeg, brandy, baking spices, and Charles Dickens lay the framework for a fresh batch of wintry punch deliciousness at Punch House. And yes, I said Charles Dickens. The scribe provides inspiration for his namesake Charles Dickens Punch at the subterranean Pilsen bar, which features Jamaican rum, French brandy, tea, sugar, lemon, and "fire," all served in a dainty and adorable tea cup that looks like it belongs in Wonderland. Other comfy potables include the Milk Punch made with brandy, lemon, whey, and nutmeg; and the American Orange Punch with rye whiskey, orange, baking spices, Curacao, lemon, and porter.

Speaking of punch, there are a couple enriching versions on deck at Bordel, the chic "puncheon" and cabaret nestled covertly above Black Bull in Wicker Park. These modern punches are sure to liquor you up enough to take the sting out of crisp weather, including a Boston Club Punch with Cognac, Grand Marnier, Jamaican rum, Kirshwasser, raspberry, lemon, sparkling wine, and pineapple, all served in a China cup. Then there's the Light Guard Punch, made with Fino sherry, Cognac, Sauternes, lemon, sparkling wine, and pineapple.

Nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and clove are some of the most notable flavors of late fall and early winter. So when these seasonal staples become the inspiration for an entire roster of cocktails, you know you're in for a heady treat. Matthew "Choo" Lipsky has whipped up a bevy of new spice-inspired cocktails at LUXBAR, each one tasting like a hug from grandma. Albeit a hug that gets you drunk (#hugdrunk).

When it comes to cold-weather imbibing, it's hard to beat a good whiskey and cider combo. And specifically, it's hard to beat the new Whiskey in Cider cocktail at Bohemian House, outfitted with whiskey, lemon, maple syrup, apple cider, egg white, and cinnamon. The Prague Rose is a bit more effervescent, with Effen, pear brandy, Canton, lemon simple syrup, cranberry syrup, and Prosecco. Then there's the clove powder-dusted Fashionably Czech, a vigorous mix of Makers Mark, Becherovka, old fashion syrup, and orange bitters.

Author: Matt Kirouac

A New Hampshire native, Matt Kirouac moved to Chicago in 2006 to attend culinary school. Once he realized he enjoyed writing about food more than cooking it, he applied his education in another direction, and he's been reporting on Chicago's food beat ever since. You can keep up with where he's eating on Twitter @Mattsland.